BMX. Joyce Brothers at the Worlds: Dads View!

Steve Joyce with a father’s view of the recent BMX World Championshps
“The Worlds turned out to be a bit of a disaster, Kobi had the worst crash of his life in practice on the Tuesday before the race on Thursday, he suffered really bad bruising across his hips and thighs (and wrecked the bike), despite this he still raced on the Thursday, but rode with a lot of caution, he made it out of the qualifying moto's but got knocked out in the last 64, still a great achievement considering how bad the crash was and the bruising he was riding with. Ryder got taken out in open practice the morning of the race by a much older kid, ended up with a grazing and a tyre print on his ribs… he ended up racing on, and despite riding a bit gingerly still made the last 32…
Kobi's biggest achievement came on the Sunday where he raced the Cruiser (24" wheel) class; he seemed to perk up a bit from earlier in the week. He raced the 12&under class and managed to make the last 32, huge achievement against bigger stronger kids….
Other Bournemouth club results were varied, Jordan Hatcher and Elliot Pateman rode the Boys 15's unfortunately both boys were put in the same qualifying moto, Jordan was ridding well and earned enough points to get through after just 2 of the 3 moto's, but unfortunately crashed in his 3rd race breaking his wrist in the process, even worse, Pateman was right behind him, crashed into him and broke a rib in the process !
The older guys got a mixed bag too, Jon Moore racing 40-45 cruiser crashed out in the quarter finals, whilst leading out last year’s world champion, taking him out in the process. Anthony Revell was the Man of the week though, coming out of BMX retirement about 6 months ago, he lifted the world title to confirm he's still a class act “!

Joyce Brothers selected for Great Britain

Kobi and Ryder Joyce from Branksome, Bournemouth, will be representing GB at the BMX world champs next week in Birmingham .Racing will take place on a one off purpose built track in the National Indoor Arena.
The boys already have one world championships under their belt as they both raced in Copenhagen last year. Denmark was all about gaining experience. Ryder, 5, was knocked out in the early stages whilst Kobi, 9, crashed out having won his opening qualifying round. The top 8 riders who make the final will get a world ranking and Ryder who has been racing since the age of 3 is aiming to be in that final. In 2012 he is riding in the 6 & under category and is currently lying fourth in the national series, having missed 3 rounds with an injury. Kobi races in the 10yrs boys’ category and is itching to make amends for last year’s disappointment. Father Steve says “The national series started early this year to accommodate the Olympics and Kobi is starting to peak at the right time”

Kobi has been racing since the age of four, has won two British titles and goes into the World Championships as one of the Great Britain’s top hopes. If that was not pressure enough, British Cycling has given Kobi a wild card entry into the 9-12 yrs. boys’ cruiser class, racing boys three years older than him. Steve continues “This seems a big ask for a 9 year old as he will only get his cruiser race bike a week before the event, but he sees it as a bit of fun and it does not faze him. Hopefully both boys will do well as I dread the bragging rights on the drive home!”

The UCI BMX World Championships is the biggest prize in BMX racing with the world’s best riders chasing the right to wear the coveted rainbow stripes for the following 12 months. The event is also the last event in which nations can secure qualification points for the London Olympics in 2012. The event takes place in the Birmingham's NIA between 24th and 27th May 2012.